Clearing a plugged grease fitting

RufusMons · May 13, 2022

Whats a good way to unplug a plugged grease fitting?

I have a blocked Zerk fitting on an old Ford flail mower.

RESLLS · May 13, 2022

Called a zerk zapper. Fill with penetrating fluid. Snap on the zerk and hit with hammer. Probably easier to change the zerk. If it's not the zerk, the zapper will push the fluid in and loosen the hardened grease. They're about $50 though.

charlie n · May 13, 2022

5/16 wrench. Take the old one out and put a new one in.

macec3 · May 14, 2022

On an old grease fitting, I have seen the spring rust away leaving only the ball.
When grease is applied the ball is pushed back and acts as a plug.
Probably easier to just change the zerk and be done with it.

Dean · May 14, 2022

Bingo.

showcrop · May 14, 2022

If it is indeed the Zerk that is plugged, it is best to just put a new one on. My experience however, is that in order to get grease in I have to take the whole assembly apart, often with a torch involved, then clean it up good, lubricate and put it back together.

Dean · May 15, 2022

Bingo.

A few years ago, I bought a new grapple bucket.

Upon delivery, I could see two colors of grease around all zerks, indicating that it had been greased twice, probably at the factory and again at the dealership, so I did not grease it again before using it
for a small project.

After finishing, I greased it myself and found one zerk that would not take. Like other zerks, there was evidence of grease of two colors on the zerk but no evidence grease exiting around the rotating
assembly.

Use of an impact zerk driver failed as did replacement of the zerk with a new one.

Disassembly of the rotating assembly revealed that the hole for the zerk had been drilled and tapped but it had not been drilled completely through.

Annoying that at least two people, one at the factory and another at the dealership, attempted to grease the mechanism, failed and simply moved on.

Dean

Clearing a plugged grease fitting

RufusMons

Member

RESLLS

Well-known Member

charlie n

Well-known Member

macec3

Member

Dean

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

Dean

Well-known Member

Similar threads